Trinity 24

We are approaching the end of this church year, in two weeks it will be Advent which is the first Sunday of the new church year, and so it is a good time to stop and take stock of what the Liturgy has asked of us in this trinity season. Trinity is the time where we look at the previous seasons, the incarnation, the life, death, resurrection, ascension and arrival of the Spirit and with that in mind we live out Gospel message in proclamation to our neibors.

Along side God’s work to reconcile sinners we also think about how he uses us to care for the poor, to care for each other, to pray fervently, to worship as a body and we think about how we can access him through the eating and drinking of his Body and blood in a spiritual manner. In todays epistle reading St. Paul is writing a letter of encouragement and excitement to the Colossians. He did not plant this church and he has never been to visit the church in Colossi. Yet he is hearing how much the Gospel message has impacted them to Holy living and he is moved to a place of celebration and wants to let them know.

So today I wanted to explore this bit of text and be mindful that we should reflect on the slow and steady change we experience as God’s kids living out God’s message.

So the text. Like I said this is not St. Paul’s church and he had never been there. But he had heard about the joy that community was living with. So he has a 2 part prayer for them. He is so moved that he starts the part one with these words of thanksgiving.

Colossians 1:3–5[3] We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, [5] because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, (ESV)

So the thanksgiving to God Both for faith and for love. We need to be mindful this is not some new age celebration of all faith, but faith in Jesus, and his Gospel message, this clarifies as he continues this thought in later verses. He also is thankful of the love that they have for one another…now he will comment on the source. Hope…faith and love have their genesis in hope. Hope of heaven that hey heard as the truth of the Gospel. Knowledge of how it ends giving them what they need to live out the Gospel. Not a hope like hoping the Bengals can turn around the season with an injured quarterback, but a hope that is sure. certainty of how it ends. Verse 5b. hope that has come to them from the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, the good news. The Cross, the empty grave, the ascension, the giving of the Spirit.

Colossians 1:6[6] which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, (ESV)

Not only is this original community of hearers growing, but the whole world is hearing the Gospel and there is again there are converts who are showing Holy Spirit fruit. It comes from the understanding of Grace and Truth.

Verse 7 talks about how the message was delivered through someone other than Paul, not our focus today but it is good to remember that St. Paul is discipling other church planters who are creating successful communities.

Well we are now on to Part 2 of this prayer. Moving from celebration to request.

Colossians 1:9–10[9] And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (ESV)

St. Paul is requesting for them knowledge of his will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding.

So first there is the knowledge of his will. There is a sense of God having a will for us, what job to take what ways to live missional lives, how to deal with difficult family. There is another sense of God’s will that it is his people living out his commands. The ancient rabbis would talk about God’s will as a the Torah. That God desired his people to live out the Law of Moses. There is a sense for us that God’s will is that we would live out commands of Christ along with knowing what he desires for us as individuals.

Then there is Spiritual Wisdom and understanding. The people of Collosi where often facing new, faddish religious trends, and needed to be weary of weather it was of God or not. TO this point they had stood strong on the Gospel message and Paul was praying that they would still.

in this way they would live “Fully Pleasing.” a bit of a shibboleth of the day.

Colossians 1:11–12[11] being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (ESV)

Now St. Paul will ask that they are given all power not according it their own effort but according to God’s glorious might. For with this power they will accomplish three things

endurance, patients, and joy.

Endurance, the physical capability to stick with it when its hard. Because walking in the will of God is hard. It is tiresome. Fasting is tiresome. service is tiresome. There are days where I feel a Physical weakness and can not pray the offices. The physical strength is not resident with in the Colossians, God must provide and Paul asks for it.

Patients, its one thing to be provided physical strength but there is also the need for mental fortitude. This two has to come from God.

Finally joy, not just suffering through with a stiff upper lip but taking on hardship with joy, for it gives us communion with Christ.

Last thought, an inheritance, light that of the saints of light. That they no longer wander in darkness and separation from the source, but in light, in full communion with God.

So today I wanted to explore this bit of text and be mindful that we should reflect on the slow and steady change we experience as God’s kids living out God’s message.

So I wanted to take stock of my time here and encourage this body that my season here has brought me a similar joy to what St. Paul has experienced with the church of Colossians.

The first thing I would celebrate with you guys is that you have hope laid up in heaven. I have never had a conversation among you riddled with doubt. No one ever in tears wondering if faith has been in vain. And if I say that and you are thinking, Andrew I just never got around to telling you about my doubts…please do. Lets be honest that sometimes we doubt…and doubt is the weight room of Christian faith where we make our faith stronger. We might wonder if Jesus did exsist and we can explore the record and see that he is a historical figure. We might doubt the resurrection and also see that the evidence of the resurrection is sure. You might doubt the existence of God and we can look at that together and see the evidence for the existence of God. It is not wrong to doubt it makes us stronger. BUt this congregation has shown such a hope in heaven.

Your hope has produced faith and love. I watch as you guys adore Christ, I hear your singing and then I see you take that love and turn it on each other. I see you bring care to sick members…Andrew have you talked to so and so yet they are really struggling. You are doing the Pastoral care before I can even get my clericals on.